William j



@Hitch tstes stwi @Hita WILLIAM J. BIEIEES, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA Letters Patent No. 61,254, dated January 15, 1867.

FRAME FOR SLATES.

ilge tlgemle referat tu in time Estima ntmt ant limiting part sf itsstmt.

To ALL wHoM 1r MAY ooNcERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. RHEES, of Washington city, District ofColumbia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Frames forSlates; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents an ordinary school slate, A, enclosed by my improvedhollow frame, B, consisting of boxes with hinged lids, C C C C, two ofthem closed and two shown open, each lid having a spring catch. Drawingsor copies of .letters are shown marked on the lids. The hollow box-framemay be divided into compartments, as shown by D D.

Figure 2 represents a number of copy-slips for insertion in the boxes BB.

Figure 3'shows a part of the box-frame divided' by partitions, D D D D DD, to make compartments for holding pencils, ruler, sponge, Sto.

Figure 4 shows blocks" or cubes upon which letters, words, or drawingsare made for insertion in the boxframe B.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe the same.

The frames made according to my improvement consist of a box or boxesenclosing or holding securely the ordinary slate of argillaceousmaterial, porcelain, board, metal, or other subs-tance, used in schools,countinghouses, and elsewhere. These boxes thus formed are intended asreceptacles for pencils, rulers, Sharpeners,

erasers, or other utensils; forbooks or slips on which .copies are madefor instruction in `any branch ci' knowledge; for blocks, cubes,rollers, or other articles for instruction or amusement, or they may beused for currency, postage, and revenue stamps, labels, or for manyother purposes. These boxes are Vshown on the drawing in fig. 1, B B,and are to be provided with a suitablecovering attached to the frames byhinges and fastened, when closed, by a small spring catch. These coversor lids may also be made to slide in grooves, and one of them may inthis case be used as a ruler. The lidsl may also be fastened by locks,and each-may be opened separately, orby lapping one over another onefastening may be sulhcient to keep all the lids closed. These lidsmayalso all open on one side of the slate, or part onone side and parton the other.

. vThe frames I have described may be made of tin, gatta percha, wood,or any suitable material, and they may be made of any shape, with eithersquare or round corners, at the option of the manufacturer. On thecovers or lids of the boxes., or ou the bottoms or sides thereof, Ipropose to mark or attach copies for instruction, tables, calendars,lorany information, and especially to mark measures of length for thepurpose of training the eye and for guides in writing or drawing. Thearticles deposited in my hollow frames may be loose or placed incompartments, iig. 1, D, g. 3, D D D D D D, or held by springs, catches,or other usual devices. To prevent noise, the boxes may be covered orsuitably protected by cloth, rubber, or other soft material.

It will thus be seen that "by my improvement many. advantages arelsecured without adding materially to 'the expense of the ordinary frame,and while my hollow frames will be of general utility, it is believedthey Vwill beof special benefit to children in primary schools.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, is-

C'Zaz'm.

1. Making the frame to a slate of'a box or boxes, as and for the purposesubstantially as described. 2. Using the box-frame of a slate as areceptacle for pencils, rulers, sponge, or any other utensils orarticles, substantially as described. y

3. Dividing the box-frame ot' a slate into compartments, as and for thepurposes described; 4. Making letters, drawings, and measures of lengthon the box-frame of a slate, either outside or inside. In testimonywhereof I hereunto subscribe my name this tenth day of December, A.`D.1866.

WM. J. RHEES.

Witnesses:

EDM. F. BnowN,

RUFUS FAIBBANKS.

